William l



(No Model.)

W. L. PERRY.

TREADLE.

No. 271,112. Patented Jan.23, 1883.

Wu'brwsse/s:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM LQPERRY, LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDHODGETTS F. WORRALL.

TREADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,112, dated January23, 1883. Application filed November 15, 1882. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. PERRY, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvementsin Treadles, of which the following is a specification. This inventionrelates to treadles for apply- 1ng power to sewing-machines or otherlight mechanism; and it has for its object to pro vide a treadle whichwill enable the position and movements of the feet of the operator to bechanged from time to time, thus avoiding the weariness and physicalinjury resulting from a long continuance of one set of movements ofthefeet.

To this end theinvention consists in a treadle composed of a framehaving two foot-supportin g bars at the opposite sides of an openspace,said bars being at opposite sides of the pivots of the treadle, andadapted to permit the feet of the operator to be placed in severaldifferent positions while working the treadle, as I will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a z 5 part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a treadle embodying myinvention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent top views of the same,showing-differentpositions which the operators feet may assume inworking the treadle. Fig. 4. represents a transverse section of thetreadle.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings, A represents my improved 3 5 treadle, which is composedof an open frame having front and rear bars or foot-supportingportions,2 3, connected by transverse end bars, and separated by a spaceof sufficient width to enable one end of the operators foot to rest 40on the floor, between the bars 2 3, and the other end to bear on one ofsaid bars.

B B represent the trunnions or pivots on which the treadle rocks, saidpivots being substantially parallel with the bars 2 3, and mid- 4 5 waybetween the same, so that when the treadle is rocked the bars 2 3 willrise and fall to the same extent. The pivots are of course journaled insuitable hearings in the frame of the machine, or independently thereof,as may be desired.

It will be seen that the described construction enables the feet toassume several different positions inworking the treadle. For example,the toe of the right foot may rest on the bar 3 and the heel on thefloor, between the bars 2 and 3, while the heel of the other foot restson the bar 2 and the toe on the floor, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.; orthe positions of the feet may be reversed, as shown in Fig. 3, the toeof the left foot resting on the floor and the heel of the right on thebar 2; or the toe of the right foot may rest on the bar 3 and the toe ofthe left foot on the bar 2, both heels resting on the floor; or the toeof the left foot may rest on the bar 3 and the toe of the right foot onthe bar 2. Ample provision is thus made for the relief of the operatorby frequently changing the position and movements of the feet, and theoperation is made much easier and less fatiguing than when each foot hasto remain in the same relation to the treadle and make the samemovements hour after hour.

I prefer to provide rests or plates 1). D D D on the bars 2 3 for thebetter accommodation or hearing of the operators feet. Said 7 rests arepivoted upon the bars 2 3, so that they can conform to the position ofthe sole of the operators foot, suitable stops being provided topreventsaid rests from rotating downwardly to the under side of the bars2 3.

If desired, the bars 2 3 may be provided respectively with a fixedheel-rest, F, and afixed toe-rest, G, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, toenable the operator to work the treadle by a simultaneous movement ofthe heel and toe. U

Power may be communicated from the treadle through a connecting-rod orpitman, or through flexible straps, to a clutch motion. in the formercase the treadle should have an arm, I, at one side to connect with thepitman, andin c the latter case a similar arm may be provided at eachside for the connection of the straps to the treadle.

It is found that when one end of the foot is supported on the floor andthe foot is oscil- 5 lated up and down from said fixed point the 2 I27Lll2 muscular exertion is much less fatiguing and injurious to theoperator than when the foot is entirely supported on the treadle.

I claim 1. The improved treadle composed of the open frame havingcentrally-arranged pivots, and foot-supporting bars located at oppositesides of said pivots, said bars being separated by a space of sufficientsize to receive a part of the operators foot, each bar being adapted tofurnish a bearing for either foot, while the other foot bears ontheother bar, whereby numerous changesin the position and movements of thefeet are permitted, asset forth.

2. The improved treadle composed of the 15 open frame havingcentrally-arranged pivots, and foot-supporting bars located at oppositesides of said pivots, each bar having foot rests or plates pivotedthereto, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 2o to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th day ofNovember,1882.

WILLIAM L. PERRY;

Witnesses:

- JOHN R. WILSON,

O. F. BROWN.

